So, I've been thirty for a week now. It's going okay. I guess. In more interesting news is my birthday party tomorrow. I went shopping and have lots of super cool 80's things for my party. For decor, I've dug out some of my old toys and hit the store looking for some replacements of the things I've since lost. You'd be amazed at how many items can still be found in your neighborhood Toys R Us. I got some Smurfs, a My Little Pony, some Hot Wheels, Strawberry Shortcake, a Care Bear, a Pound Puppy and a Rubix Cube.
I don't know if I've mentioned my Barbie collection before. For the most part, I've tamed it. I haven't bought one in years. I sold most of them except for my absolute favorites. When I went into Toys R Us, there was a huge display for Barbie's 50th Birthday. Apparently to commemmorate, they've reproduced some of their most popular dolls over the years. The one is Barbie and the Rockers from 1986. I had this doll. This exact doll. Everything about her is just the way she was. I had her, Dee Dee, Derek, the stage and the metallic pink Corvette convertible. Oh yes. I LOVED Barbie and the Rockers.
So, of course, when I saw this in the store, I immediately snatched it up. Did any of you guys have one of these? She was Mattel's competition for JEM (she's truly outrageous...truly, truly, truly outrageous). If not, there were several other reproductions that might be more from your era.
How about this one - Superstar Barbie from 1977?
Or maybe good ol Malibu Barbie from 1971?
Maybe the Bubble Cut from 1961, then?
I adored Barbie as a little girl. I had the house, the cars, the furniture and a million different outfits. I only parted with my stuff under protest when I was about 14 (I know, so embarassing) and turned to collecting the more expensive boxed dolls instead. Did you have a favorite Barbie? If not, what was your favorite toy as a kid?
SP
PS. HOLY CRAP! Look what I just found! Jude Deveraux has a 2003 Barbie and Ken set reenacting her book The Raider! I never knew that was an option! Hit the NYT! Get your book made into a movie! Get a Barbie set designed after your book!
What a trip.
31 comments:
I have a couple of Scarlett O'Hara Barbies. They're still in the boxes. When I was a kid I had the run of the mill Barbie with the black and white striped bathing suit. As I recall, she did not fare well. I'm pretty sure she ended up without a head . . .
LJ
I had the Scarlet Barbies too, but I sold them. Even had Ken as Rhett, which was laughable. The Barbie you're talking about is the Debut Barbie. I think they redid her as part of this collection, too. Pity you don't still have her - an original in good shape is worth several thousand now.
My first Barbie was not a real Barbie. My parents were cheap and didn't get it at all. I was so disappointed when I saw the legs didn't bend. It was a pathetic Christmas that year.
I finally got the Malibu Barbie when I was about 9 or 10.
Never really collected anything. I've tried, but I hate clutter and dust--to me collectables tend to cause both to appear.
However, I am a crazy scrapbooker -- is that a word?
Have a great party SP!! I'll be thinking of you while I watch my daughter dance.
Malibu Barbie was my first. :) I don't remember the others I may have had over the years, but I do remember getting a Farrah Fawcett doll and a Cher doll. :)
I had the Barbie townhouse. And a pool. So cool. What's with mothers making us get rid of this stuff anyway? Mine disappeared around 14 too. :(
I had the three story Barbie house with the elevator...I loved that thing. My favorite Barbie was the one with the peach evening gown. I think she also had jeweled earrings and some pretty cool high heels. I loved that thing. I don't really remember when my Barbie's disappeared. I do still have 1 though...a Barbie doll named Kira. I thought I had to have that. She's still in the box on a shelf in my office.
The thing is, I've tried to foster a desire to play with Barbies in the girls. They are not interested. They have several and never play with them. In fact, I think we have a couple still in the boxes on a shelf in the closet.
Instigator
Christine - my mom also got inventive with a lot of this stuff. I wanted the Barbie dream house - I got this Fingerhut catalog knockoff with all the furniture painted onto the backdrop. What fun was that? Or the Dream Glow Barbie with stars on her dress that glowed in the dark - everytime I'd ask for it, she'd buy me another pack of assorted clothes. She never got that I didn't want more clothes. I wanted that doll.
Hmm...wonder how much it goes for on Ebay these days...
Lynn - my mom gave me some guilt trip about underprivlidged children and I gave it up. Gave away my Atari 2600 and all the games, too. Stupid.
BTW - I apologize for this being the wonkiest formatted post ever. I've edited it about 12 times this morning and this is as good as it gets. Looks nothing like it does on the edit page. Sigh.
Kira - my nerdiness is showing here - Peaches and Cream Barbie came out the same time as Dream Glow. I didn't get either. Grr. And your house was my much lusted after Barbie Dream house. Never really knew why it had an elevator.
LS doesn't really care for Barbies either. It breaks my heart.
::sigh::
I never had a Barbie -- real or knock-off. My best friend Pam had one and I coveted that doll.
My little granddaughter got one for Christmas last year from Santa. She was only 2 1/2 at the time. She's starting young.
Marilyn - Never had one? Absolutely tragic. I might have to buy you one for Christmas on principle.
That's one of the things I like about being a grown up. I can buy myself the things I couldn't get as a child.
Dear PM,
You had a "Tammy" Doll with a complete wardrobe of hand-made one-of-a-kind designer clothes. ('Scuse me, two-of-a-kind.) I know, because I made them.
Love,
PM"s Mother
But it wasn't a Barbie! ::whines::
I never had a real Barbie either. I remember begging for one every time we went to Roses. (a much smaller version of WalMart in the 60's) I ended up getting a very bad imitation for Christmas one year. She had awful hair and plastic hollow legs. : (
But..my dearest friend in the world, Tammy, had several Barbies and they were gorgeous. No matter how many times I wanted to play Barbie, and it was pretty often, she would always play even when I'm sure she wanted to play something else.
Now I'm feeling nostalgic and need to call my friend and let her know how much I love her.
It must be the weekend for dance recitals. My daughter has one on Sat. also. She has been taking dance for 13 years and this will be her last one.
Hope you guys have a great time this weekened! :D
I had the 1961 Barbie, plus Ken, Skipper, Midge, and some knockoffs. I had a ton clothes, both purchased and grandmother made. I remember a pink satin evening dress with fur stole and a tux for Ken.
I never got the dream house. I am still bitter about it. I might go buy me one today. Both my husband and my writing partner are very sick and I deserve it.
Here you go, Jean. The dream can still be yours...
http://www.amazon.com/Mattel-Barbie-3-Story-Dream-Playset/dp/B000ELIXBS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1242408574&sr=8-3
Oh, Barbies. I loved Barbies growing up.
I had to create furniture from my imagination. A tissue box served as a bed. Toilet paper or a hankerchief was a very comfortable and soft coverlet. A tissue box also transformed into a car. ;)
Actually I did once receive the much coveted multi level Barbie house when I was about 10. I saved all my dolls and Barbie house for my kids, but tragic things happen to dolls and their house when they are stored in your mother's attic. Later, when I asked for them, I discovered that certain rodents had used their imaginations too.
To keep the Barbie phenomenon alive, we bought our daughters Barbies. Oh, the joy! Watching the next generation play with Barbies. The girls had fun with GI Joe too, although he'd been maimed in battle and had only one leg. ;) My joy sooned turned to disgruntelment when #2 decided she wanted a Spice Girl doll and turned Pocahontas into Posh Spice. Oh, the ruination of it all!!!
I'd also like to add that weird conversations happen when you play Barbies with Ken or GI Joe...
I didn't even get into Barbies until I was 10. It was all about dolls until that time. My favorite dolls were "My Friend Mandy" and "My Friend Jenny". Some of my favorite Barbies were Malibu Skipper, Todd & Tracy(friends of Barbie and Ken with dark hair), and many of my different Barbie dolls. I had the townhouse, the camper, the pool and a bunch of other stuff for Barbie and friends. Lost all of it in a house fire when I was 12 and only have 2 replacement dolls. My youngest niece plays with my Barbie and Skipper when she is at my house. She is 5 and has never really gotten into Barbie.
Kathy - yeah, I knew it was time to give up playing with Barbies when it had evolved more or less to a reenactment of my books. :)
SP, I have to say I am quite amazed at your extensive knowledge of Barbie-land. A touch worried too.
I was always jealous of my aunt, who had a trunk full of Barbies and all the accessories to go with them (she was only 5 years older than me). But upon receiving my own Barbies (just a few), I seem to remember just liking to fix their hair and dress them up. I didn't really "play" with them. Weird.
Angel
BTW, can't wait for the party! I bought a belt today. :)
Angel
Yep Barbie was my favorite toy and I still have her after all these years, she in bad shape. She was about a 1960 model. I have Barbie, Fuzzy hair Ken who is bald now, flat chested Skipper, and the red headed Midge. Yes I kept them all because they were my favorite.
Crap! I still don't know what to wear... Oh, if only I could morf into a Barbie right now.
Kathy - you should dress as one of Robert Palmer's backup singers. Put on a black dress with black hose and heels, slick your hair back into a bun and do the dramatic makeup. You'd look cute.
Or you could always put on a leotard and headband and come as Jane Fonda...
And be considered a traitor? Nah...
I do like the Arnold Palmer stuff. I could do that but my bulges would show right now. I need to lose twenty pounds. (sigh)
Thought a lot about Madonna Cone Boobs.., :)
For goodness sake, obviously I don't know the difference between a golfer and a singer. I meant to say... Robert Palmer. Double Arrrrr!
I had only one Barbie. And who says you can't still play with Barbies? When I got tired of knitting gloves and such, I got myself a used Barbie (the one I had as a kid was long gone) and started making clothes for Barbie. Now I would just need to find someone who would want to trade them for something, since I don't excatly need them myself (anyone?).
I have a Special 2000 Edition Barbie that I bought back then ..still in the box. Do you have any idea about how much that'd be worth?
Kathy - if you want to dress like Arnold Palmer, well, go for it. :)
Rachel - I'd check with eBay. Unfortunately, the mass availability since about 1998 has really killed the market, especially with places like eBay selling them. Search for closed auctions of that doll to see what people are paying. That will give you a good idea.
At the same time, its great for buying. I got the $800 doll I'd always wanted for the bargain price of $350. Don't choke. No, I'm not crazy. She's beautiful. I have almost all the original Bob Mackie dolls.
http://www.barbiecollector.com/showcase/product.aspx?id=150025&t=modern
Oh, and I recently saw this short program on tv about this woman who tunes up Barbies. She buys from fleamarkets used up Barbies and gives them new hair, make up and clothes.
I LOVED Barbies as well. I had the house and tons of dolls. I can't remember the names of them all though. I know, that's sad. LOL. I do remember Barbie and the Rocker. Loved her!
:)
Thanks Smarty Pants! :)
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